NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer declared that if Russian President Vladimir Putin will join the Summit with an open mind, significant progress will be made. He underlined that despite any disagreements on current issues like Kosovo or the missile shield in Europe, there is a framework for communication.
Scheffer added that Russian authorities declared that it will open up its territory in order to allow transports towards Afghanistan of non military goods for NATO operations there. Afghanistan is just another issue on the Summit's agenda to reaffirm the Alliance's engagement in the region.
NATO's Secretary General declared that no matter what the official NATO decision will be, Georgia and Ukraine will receive a positive and clear message regarding their position within the Alliance. Whatever the stand of NATO, the expansion dossier will not be closed after Bucharest. His position thus remains reserved.
Among countries sustaining Russia against the Membership Action Plan for Georgia and Ukraine are France and Germany. Tension arises as talks on this issue are more and more vibrant. Overall, Scheffer is confident that this year's Summit will prove a success. NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer declared that if Russian President Vladimir Putin will join the Summit with an open mind, significant progress will be made. He underlined that despite any disagreements on current issues like Kosovo or the missile shield in Europe, there is a framework for communication.
Scheffer added that Russian authorities declared that it will open up its territory in order to allow transports towards Afghanistan of non military goods for NATO operations there. Afghanistan is just another issue on the Summit's agenda to reaffirm the Alliance's engagement in the region.
NATO's Secretary General declared that n
